Dunhill Links Championship: World number 462 Darren Fichardt leads on day one

South African Darren Fichardt hit a superb 11-under-par 61 at Kingsbarns to lead by one stroke on day one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The 49-year-old world number 462 finished one off the course record of 60 which was struck by his countryman Branden Grace in 2012.

Fichardt last struck a round of 61 at the 2001 Sao Paulo Brazil Open.

His last European Tour win was at the Joburg Open in 2017.

On Thursday, he hit nine birdies, two eagles and two bogeys for a one-shot lead over Australia’s Cameron John.

England’s two-time Dunhill champion Tyrrell Hatton and Spain’s Jon Rahm both went round in seven under at Carnoustie – traditionally the hardest of the three courses used in the Pro-Am event on the DP World Tour.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre carded a five-under 67 also at Carnoustie, where Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick both shot 68.

Rory McIlroy was playing the same course but his three-under 69 in favourable scoring conditions was only good enough for tied 73rd.

The Old Course at St Andrews is the third course in the tournament’s rotation, where new Zealand’s Daniel Hillier hit the round of the day – a nine-under 63 to out him in a tie for third.